House of Mystery receives a new main feature, bumping the former headliner J'onn J'onzz into the back-up spot. In issue #156 writer David Wood and artist Jim Mooney introduce Dial H for Hero, in which Robby Reed comes into possession of a strange telephone dial. When used, it transforms the hapless teen into all manner of bizzare (and for the most part, original) heroes including Chief Mighty Arrow and his flying pony Wingy, a dynamite-fisted tot, The Mighty Moppet, the candy-weapon weilding King Kandy and the Golden-Age Quality Comics hero Plastic Man. His last appearance prior to this is in Plastic Man #64, November 1956. Plas bounces into his first DC published mag (+ splash page) at year's end.
is revived with a massive advertising blitz appearing throughout the entire DC line, and in some cases right in the midst of the action as seen in this panel on page 4 of Hawkman #11. The Disembodied Detective haunts Showcase for three issues: #s 60 (+ back cover), 61 (+ house ad) and 64. Compare them to his first Golden-Age appearance in More Fun Comics #52 (02/40).

Prince Ra-Man & Eclipso slug it out in House of Secrets #76. A few issues later Eclipso and Prince Ra-Man are evicted from The House of Secrets (#80).

The origin of The Enchantress is revealed in Strange Adventures #187. Animal Man is featured in Strange Adventures #184, he gets a union suit in #190.

Triplicate Girl is reduced to Duo Damsel when one of her bodies is killed in Adventure Comics #341, Star Boy kills in selfdefence and is expelled from the Legion in Adventure Comics #342, the origin of Sun Boy is told in #348. Star Boy and Dream Girl regain Legion membership in Adventure Comics #350 & #351.

The Teen Titans move into their own title that continues for 43 issues ending in 1973. Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy joins the team in issue #4 (+ splash page his origin is told in Adventure Comics #209, 02/55). Beast Boy and The Doom Patrol appear in issue #6.

Swing with Scooter begins a run that lasts 36 issues ending in 1972. This house ad tells readers that Showcase #62 will feature his debut; when the book hit the stands the Inferior Five were the headliners.

Lois Lane #68 (G-26) is a very romantic issue, Catwoman (with The Penguin and Batman & Robin in tow) makes her first appearance in the Silver Age, ending a 12 year absence, in the pages of Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #70 (+ back cover + splash) & #71. The Feline Felon was last seen in Batman #84 [06/54] and Detective Comics #211 [09/54]. She first appeared in Batman #3 Fall 1940. First cover appearances: Detective Comics #122 [04/47] and Batman #42 [08-09/47]. Her origin is revealed in Batman #62 [12/50].

Death comes calling in Batman #180; Batman & Robin are struck down by a bad case of Poison Ivy in Batman #181 (+ house ad), she reappears in #183. [It is also the point at which the print stories begin to emulate those of the Batman TV series.] Batman #182 (G-24) & Batman #185 (G-27) are 80pg. GIANTS. Batman battles Eclipso in The Brave & The Bold #64. Batman also ventures into the third dimention for the second time in this special mag (+ 1st page & back cover), his first foray occured in 1953 (+ back cover & glasses). Superman also appeared in 3-D in '53, here are the first and last pages.

Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen shows Superman and Batman that he's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore in issue #92 of his own title. In issue #93, we are taken to Earth X. On this planet, Jimmy is "The Batman-Superman of Earth X!" It almost makes the Bizarro World seem normal by comparison. Jimmy Olsen #95 (G-25) showcases the cub reporter's greatest disguises.

The Key causes considerable consternation in JLA #41, Robin makes a brief appearance. Metamorpho turns down membership in The Justice League of America #42 (+ splash page), The Royal Flush Gang are dealt with in #43 (+ splash page). Green Lantern, Batman and the Flash suffer from "The Plague That Struck the Justice League!" in #44. The JLA wages a super-struggle against Shaggy Man in #45. Solomon Grundy is the catalyist for this year's JLA/JSA team-up in issue #s 46 & 47, these issues also mark the Silver-Age debut of The Sandman. He first appeared in New York World's Fair Comics #1 + 1st page (04/39) and then on to Adventure Comics #40 + first page (07/39). Grundy first battled the JSA in All-Star Comics #33 (02-03/47). A trade paperback titled "Crisis on Multiple Earths!" reprints the first four JLA/JSA team-ups, 1963-1966. Cover by Alex Ross.

Superman and Batman & Robin face alien menaces in World's Finest #161 (G-28). JLA #48 (G-29) is an 80pg GIANT; Bruce Timm's faithful recreation of this classic cover serves as the cover of The Justice League Companion. That mystical malcontent Felix Faust returns in JLA #49. Robin, the Boy Wonder lends a hand in #50.

The Inferior Five run amok in Showcase #62, #63 & #65.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl continue their high-flying exploits in #11, #12, #13, #14, #15 & #16.

Doc Dread is eager to sign Metamorpho's death certificate in #8.

The Flash & The Doom Patrol join forces in Brave & the Bold #65 (+ house ad), Metamorpho and the Metal Men mix it up (literally!) in #66 then the Brave & the Bold becomes a Batman team-up title (with a few exceptions) starting with issue #67. DC pokes a little fun at their MARVEL-ous rival when Batman becomes "Bat-Hulk" in Brave & the Bold #68 (DC Special Series #27, dated Fall 1981, cronicles their first "real-life" encounter); Marvel pokes back in their Super-Hero humor book Not Brand Echh #2, dated 09/67. Superman is lampooned in #7, the April 1968 issue.

Green Lantern artist Gil Kane gives himself a cameo in #45 (+ splash page); writer Gardner Fox appears in Detective Comics #347, Joe Kubert gets a rare chance to depict Batman on the covers of #348, #349 & #350; the Weather Wizard turns up in #353, Alfred returns from the dead in Detective Comics #356. Jerry Lewis meets Batman, Robin & The Joker in The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #97.

Aquaman & Aqualad confront an alien collector of sea life in issue #27 (+ splash page);The Ocean Master, villianous half brother of Aquaman, is seen for the first time in Aquaman #29; with members of the Justice League in attendance, the King of Atlantis is laid to rest (or is he?) in #30.

The Challengers of the Unknown team-up with The Doom Patrol in issue #48 and Sea Devils in issue #51.

Batman & Robin and The Flash & Wonder Woman appear in Metal Men #21 then, Metal Men are transformed into humans in Metal Men #22.

The Viking Prince returns in Our Army at War #162, Sgt. Rock introduces The Unknown Soldier in Our Army at War #168. Star Spangled War Stories #129 sports a great Joe Kubert cover. Our Fighting Forces #100 graces the racks, #1 appeared in 1954. The last issue, #181 is published in 1978.

Wonder Woman's Golden Age origin is retold in Wonder Woman #159; the origin of Wonder Woman's secret identity is presented in #162.

The Toyman's Silver Age debut is in Superman #182; his first Golden Age appearance is in Action Comics #64 [09/43]. Superman #183 (G-18) (+ back cover) reprints classic tales from The Man of Steel's Golden-Age. Our Army at War #164 (G-19) features 6 Battle Stars. Supergirl is featured in Action Comics #334 (G-20), Superman #187 (G-23) is an all Fortress of Solitude 80 pg. GIANT; alien invaders hold the key to Krypton's second doom in Superman #189 (+ splash page); a story with a similar theme leads off Action Comics #182, the July 1953 issue. Superman battles the Earth's elements personfied in Superman #190 (+ splash page). Action Comics #332 features an intriguing tale; here's the original splash page art and finished art for the book's other story. Superman plays host to The Parasite in Action Comics #340 + back cover, the 15¢ sticker was placed on mags sold on airplanes, buses and trains; Batman appears in #344.

The Justice League of America appears in Doom Patrol #104 and The Flash #158. Writer Gardner Fox is given the task of building a story around the cover scene thought up by editor Julius Schwartz for issue #159, the same challenge is given to Metal Men/Wonder Woman editor-writer Robert Kanigher. It inspires a completely different story to be told in issue #161; the Fastest Man Alive is reluctant to traverse the Corridor of Chills in #162. The Flash #160 (G-21), an 80pg GIANT, features Super-Speed Rivals, a dramatic plea is made on the cover of #163. The Pied Piper is the cause of Flash's power malfunction in #164. Barry (The Flash) Allen marries Iris West in The Flash #165; Captain Cold and Heatwave again menace The Flash in #166.

Jean Loring agrees to marry Ray (The Atom) Palmer in The Atom #26 (+ page 18 original art). It's a long engagement; they are married in Justice League of America #157 dated August, 1978. The happy couple are depicted leaving the church on page 33's original art.

Superboy #129 (G-22) is a friends & foes issue.

Mystery in Space ends its 16 year run with issue #110. All-American Men of War ends with #117.